Can BBI take Kenyans to the Promised Land

For many of us, the Bible is a guiding light of our principles. Christianity has instilled in generations a moral compass and ethical code.

However, there is a larger question regarding the principles which should guide our lives.

To what extent should scripture guide governance? To what extent should the principles of democracy and representation be dictated by our faith?

There are many angles to this which require long treatises and theses to cover in depth.

However, as the discussions surrounding BBI swirl around the chattering classes of Kenya, it would be remiss not to pay some attention to the foundation of many of our belief systems.

The Bible is full of kings. Corrupt kings and wise kings. Victorious kings and failed kings. Yet even the wisest of kings have their faults.

Many of the judges too were shrouded in the cloud of corruption. 1 Samuel 8 tells us that “When Samuel became old, he made his sons Joel and Abijah judges over Israel. Yet his sons took bribes and perverted justice.

So corruption is age-old. And it is not just a Kenyan problem. If we read Bible as a spiritual guide and not merely as a historical document, we see the importance of righteousness.

Deuteronomy 1:13 teaches us to “Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.”

Choosing wise representative leaders is therefore at the heart of the current debate surrounding BBI. We have a system which is based around tribal kingpins.

We struggle with democratic legitimacy because while our leaders are often experienced – as Deuteronomy recommends – they don’t always have the necessary understanding and wisdom the people require.

The current system is highly personalised. Campaigns are often focused on ethnic or tribal qualities of a candidate and not a belief system. Can anyone tell what the ideological differences between the NASA and Jubilee alliances?

Can anyone tell me what the different policy platforms were? Did Raila and Uhuru have different political or moral worldviews?

Did they have different political philosophies? If so, could the voters differentiate between them?

Despite this, the criticism is not with the leaders in this case. The problem is a structural one. It is a systemic fault which needs urgent fixing.

Our system has for too long empowered the elite. As with biblical kings and judges, corruption has therefore become rife. 

We need a new system which facilitates true representation and gives a voice to the disenfranchised. The current “winner takes all” system leaves too many people without a voice.

It encourages disunity, divisiveness, ethnic tension and even violence.

1 Corinthians 1:10 notes that “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

Unity for the nation and inter-ethnic harmony in our political body and within our wider community must be at the heart of the BBI.

As long as people feel that they lack representation in government, unity can never be achieved. 

We need to take our faith and embrace the BBI as an opportunity to achieve something better for our nation.

We must grab this people-led initiative to build a better future for the next generation.

Until we have a system which truly represents all our individuals as equals, we can never reach the promised land of peace and prosperity.